Powder blower



July 26, 1938. w. B. THOMPSON POWDER BLOWER Filed Feb. 24, 1954 Patented July 26, 1938 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Application February 24, 1934, Serial No. 712,721

8 Claims.

The present invention relates to tools or apparatus for applying material such as powder or flock.

It has been proposed heretofore to discharge material such as powder or flock from a tool or apparatus in such a manner as to form a circular target on the surface to which the material is applied. y

The principal object of the present invention is to produce a tool or apparatus for applying material such as powder or ilock whereby a circular, an elliptical, or any target shape intermediate therebetween, may be formed by the material on the surface to which it is applied. l5 To the accomplishment of thisobject, and such others as may appear hereinafter, the features of the present invention relate to certain devices,

combinations and arrangement of parts hereinafter described and then set forth in the appended claims.

The various features ot the present invention will be understood readily from an inspection of the accompanying drawing, in which,

Figure 1 is a View in plan;

Fig. 2 is a view in sectional elevation on the line 2 2, Fig. l; I

Fig. 3 is a detail view in sectional elevation on the line 3 3, Fig. 2, and

Fig. 4 is a detail view in sectional elevation on the line ri-ffi, Fig. 2.

Referring to the drawing, the apparatus ortool for applying powder or ilock is preferably provided with a metallic body 5 (Figs. 1 and 2) which has integral therewith a handle or grip 6. The motive agent, which may be air under pressure, is preferably introduced into the body portion 5 through the grip 6 which is connected to an air hose l through a hose coupling 8. 'Ihe passage of the air through the body portion 5 is controlled by a normally closed main air valve (not shown) the stem 9 of which is arranged to be engaged by a trigger I0, at the will of the operative, to depress the stem 9 and thus open the main air valve. The upper end of the trigger .15 i0 is provided with a yoke II which embraces the body portion 5 to which the yoke is secured in a pivotal manner.

'I'he front end of the body portion 5 is coupled to one end of a short piece of pipe I2 the other end. of which is tted into an axial passage I3 formed in a distributor I4. The axial passage I3 communicates with a passage I5 formed vertically through the body portion of the distributor and a neck-like extension I6 thereof. Adjacent its lower lend the neck I6 is provided with a periphtends from the bottom of the neck I6 to a central blind opening 20, formed in the body portion of the distributor. and terminating on its front face.

The front face of the distributor is provided with a transverse annular seat 2| (Figs. 2 and 4) and a forwardly extending cylindrical seat 22. Rotatably positioned on the cylindrical seat 22 is a nozzle 23 the rear end face 24 of which engages the transverse seat 2| natwise. The nozzle 23 is coupled to the distributor I4 by an internally threaded ring 2E threaded on the distributor and provided with an inturned ange 2B arranged to engage a peripheral shoulder 21 formed on the The nozzle 23 is provided with a central discharge orifice 28 formed in the common base 29 of an internal frusta-conical passage 30 and an external frusto-conical recess 3|. The frustoconical internal passage 30 and the frusto-conical external recess 3l are reversely arranged so that the common base 29 is the smaller base of each of the frusto-conical surfaces.

The front end portion of the opening 23 is lined with a hollow tube 32 one end of which is provided with a flange 33 engaged with the front end face of the cylindrical seat 22. The tube 32 is provided with a peripheral groove 34 which is engaged by the rounded end of a screw 3B serving to hold the tube in place but rendering it readily removable. The entrance to the reduced cylindrical interior of the tube 32 is frusto-conlcal, the larger base being adjacent a mixing chamber 36 comprising the space in the opening 20 not lined with the tube 32, and the smaller base merging with the rear end of the cylindrical interior of the tube.

In the illustrated embodiment of the invention the powder or flock is placed in a container 31 which may be detachably connected to a closure 38 by the same means disclosed in the patent granted to Preble and Thompson, No. 1,819,117, August 18, 1931. The closure 38 is provided with a central, internally threaded opening 38 which receives the threads I8 on the neck I8. The closure 38 is clamped in engagement with the ilange I1 by s. brass nut 40 threaded on the neck It and engaged with the under surface of the closure. Into the enlarged lower end of the passage I5 is threaded the frusto-conical upper end of a hollow pipe 4I depending into the containen 31. The lower end. oi the pipe 4I is closed by a plug 42.

In order to discharge air under pressure into the container to stir or disperse the mass of powder or flock therein, to separate a portion of the moving mass into floatingparticlesand cause them to enter the passage I9 by the entraining action of the air seeking an outlet from the container through the passagei9, the pipe 4I, above the surface of the powder or flock in the container, is provided with two diametrically opposite tubes 43 (Figs. 2 and 3) radiating laterally therefrom. The outer end of each tube 43 is closed by a screw 44 (best shown in Fig. 3) thus forming a blind passage 45 into which air from the pipe 4I flows. The air in each passage 45 discharges against the surface of the powder or flock through an orifice 46 formed in each tube to the left (Fig. 2) and downwardly on an angle of 45 degrees relative to the vertical plane passing through the common center line of the tubes 43. The orifices 46 are formed in the tubes 43 on the sides thereof which face away from the entrance to the passage i9.

Some of the powder or flock swirls into the upper part of the container 97 adjacent the entrance to the passage I9 at which point the Vswirling material encounters the material laden air seeking an outlet therethrough. The material thus concentrated at the entrance to the passage I9 tends to felter and form a mat with the result that the material remains in the container and air only escapes therefrom. In order to agitate the mass of material concentrated at the entrance to the passage I 9 to prevent its feltering, to break it up into floating particles, and to add air to the entrained material so that in addition to its being thoroughly broken up and intensified there will be suicient velocity to carry the material to the point of use, the pipe 4I is provided with two upper diametrically opposite tubes 4l and 48 (Fig. 3) radiating laterally therefrom. The outer end of each of the upper tubes is closed by a screw 49 thus forming a blindpassage Sil into which air from the pipe 4I Hows. The air which enters the blind passage Eli of the tube 4'I discharges into the container 3l through an orifice 5l The air which enters the blind passage 50 of the tube 48 discharges into the container 31 through an orice 52. The orifices 5I and 52 are formed in the tubes 4l and 48, respectively, onthe sides thereof which face the entrance to the passage I9. The orifice 5I is arranged to discharge the air laterally and downward on an angle of 45 degrees relative to the vertical plane passing through the common center line of the tubes 4l and 48, while the oriflce 52 is arranged to discharge the air horizontally on the opposite side of the pipe 4I.

The air discharged from the orifices 5I and 52 acts on the mass ofl swirling material adjacent the lentrance to the passage I9 in a direction opposed separates it into particles which commingle with 4the re-agitating air. The commingled particles are discharged from the container by the entraining action of the re-agitating air escaping from the container through the passage I9. The orices 5I and 52 constitute an intensier to in tensify the density of the material laden air escaping from the container and impart velocity thereto.

i The material which entersthe passage I9 by the entraining action of the air current exhausting from the container 31 is delivered into the mixing chamber 36 where thematerial and the air have an opportunity to expand and then form into an axial line of flow through the frusto-conical entrance into the reduced cylindrical passage in the tube 32. When this material laden air leaves the tube 32 it is again directed axiallyby the internal frusto-conical passage 30 of the nozzle 23 to the discharge orifice 28. This constructionprovides for the discharge of the material centrally of the discharge orifice 23.

v'I'he tube 32 is made as a separate piece in order to enable the length of the mixing chamber 36 to be varied, to obtain a smooth frusto-conical surface between the mixing chamber and the cylindrical passage inthe tube 32, and to enable the diameter oi' the cylindrical passage in the tube 32 to be varied, all of which may be accomplished to meet varying conditions of use by substituting different tubes for the particular tube 22 shown.

The volume of air discharged through the orices 46. 5I and 62 is controlled by a spindle 53 (Figs. 2 and 3) thenpoint of which has a valve seat engagement with the wall of the vertical passage I5 just below its point of junction with the passage I3. The spindle '53 is threaded into the enlarged upper end of the passage I5 and is provided with a milled head 54 to facilitate its adjustment. Coiled about the spindle 53 and interposedbetween the distributor ifi and the head 54 is a coiled spring 55 acting to hold the spindle 53 in any desired position of adjustment. y In order that the material discharged axially (Figs. 3 and 4) formed in the distributor it. The

passage 60 communicates with the axial passage I3 through a lateral passage 6i (Figs. 2 and 4).

The volume of air discharged through the orifices 56 is controlled by a spindle 62 (Figs. 3 and 4) the point of which has a valve seat engagement with the wall of the lateral passage 6I in yadvance of its point of junction with the passage 60. The spindle 62 is threaded into the distributor I4 and is provided with a milled head 53 to facilitate its adjustment. Coiled about the spindle S2 and interposed between the distributor and the head 63 is a spring S4 acting to hold the spindle 63 in any desired position of adjustment.

In the operation, the volume of the material discharged and the velocity of the entraining air are controlled byl the spindle 53. The shape of the discharged material is controlled by the spindle 62. When the spindle 62 is engaged with its valve seat the target formed by the discharged A material is circular. By manipulating the spindle 75 |2 the shape of the target formed by the discharged material may be varied from a circle to an ellipse. As shown in Fig. 4 the orifices Il are arranged horizontally, thus providing for the flattening of the discharged material into a vertically arranged fan.

By loosening the ring 25 l the nozzle 2i may be angularly adjusted to obtain the fan in any desiredplane.

By providing for the discharge of the centrally of the orice 28 the formation of a uniform, rather than a lopsided. fan is insured when the central discharge is hit by 'the air issuins from the orifices B6. The supplemental air jets 'discharged through the oriilces IB, in addition to producing a fan shape in the discharged material, provide additional'air for breaking up the discharged material and help to control the velocity at which the discharged material is driven upon a coated surface.

In the event the orifices Il, Il and "become clogged they may be readily cleaned by removing the screws 44 and I9 and pulling the trigger i0.

In order to prevent the accumulation of static electricity in the container tending to retard the proper breaking up of the material therein and its atomization, the apparatus may be -grounded by a wire 68, (Fig. 2).

' What is claimed as new, is:

l. A tool or apparatus for applying material such as'powder or nook having, in combination, a container for the material, a closure for the container having an inlet and an outlet therein, a nozzle connected to theoutlet, means for introducing air under pressure into the container including a vertical pipe connected to the inlet andl provided with a closed end. a plurality of lower arms adjacent thereto. and a plurality oiupper arms interposed between the inlet and the lower arms.-y each lower arm having an orifice. formed in the side thereof which faces away from the outlet, for discharging air into the body of the material in a lateral and downward direction, each upper arm having an orifice formed in the side thereof which faces the outlet, one of said upper arm orifices discharging air horizontally and another one of said upper arm orices discharging air laterally and downwardly.

2. In a tool or apparatus for applying material such as powder or flock, the combination with a body portion having an opening therein provided with a rear wall, and a nozzle secured to the body portion having an internal frusto-conical passage, an external frusta-conical recess, said passage and said recess having a common base, and a central discharge orifice in the common base, said opening and said orifice having a common axis, of a lining removably mounted within -a portion of said opening so as to be spaced from the rear wall thereof, said lining having a central cylindrical passage extending partially therethrough and a frusto-conical passage, the smaller vbase of which merges with the rear end of the cylindrical passage, interposed between the portion of the opening unillled by the lining and the central cylindrical passage therein, the cylindrical and frusto-conical passages of lthe lining being in communication with the discharge orifice and the unfilled portion oi' the opening, respectively,

and the diameter `of the cylindrical passage at4 least at its discharge endbeing greater than that of the discharge orifice, said cylindrical passage by reason of said diametric difference providing a deliveryway for at least a portion of the material into impingement with the nozzle adjacent its discharge orifice.

material Y v `3. A tool or apparatus for appiying'material such as powder or flock having, in combination, a body having a positioning means upon its front end face, and having a material entraining air passage and an independent air passage, a nozzle, having a central main discharge orifice in cornmunication with the material entraining air passage, engaged directly with said positioning means, means for supplementally discharging air upon the main discharge to flatten or spread the same including a supplemental jet delivery means on the nozzle and angularly adjustable with said nozzle throughout a full circle in a single plane upon said positioning means and having passages remaining in communication with the independent air passage in any desired position of adjustment, and means independent of said positioning means for holding the nozzle engaged therewith. 4. .A tool or apparatus for applying material such as powder or flock having, in combination, a container for the flock, a main compressed air line, a body secured to the container and provided with a branch compressed air line for delivering air under pressure from the main air line into the container, a nozzle secured to the body and provided with an internal frustoconical passage and an external frusto-oonical recess, said passage and said recess having a common base and there being a discharge orince in the common base. a. passage. formed in the body, one end of which communicates with the interior .of the container and the other end of which forms a mixing chamber communicating with the internal frusto-conical passage of the nozzle, said body passage permitting the escape from the container by way of the nozzle of at least a portion of the air introduced into the container and the withdrawal of the material from the container and its discharge through the nozzle by the entraining. action of the escaping air, a. second branch air line formed in the body and connected to the main air line, and means connected to the second branch air line for discharging air therefrom under pressure upon the material discharged from the nozzle.

5. A tool or apparatus for applying material such as powder or nock having. in combination, a container for the flock. a main compressed air line, a body secured to the container and provided with a branch compressed air line for delivering air under pressure from the main air line into the container, a nozzle secured to the body and provided with an internal frusto.

conical passage and an external frusto-conical recess, said passage and said recess having a common base and there being a discharge orince in the common base. a passage. formed in the body. one end of which communicates with the interior oi.' the container and the other end oi.' which forms a mixing chamber communicating with the internal truste-conical passage oi' the nozzle, said body passage permitting the escape from the container by way of the nozzle of' recess, said passage and said recess having a common base and there being a discharge orlrice in the common base, a passagaiormed in the body one end of which communicates with 'the interior of the container and the other end oi' which forms a mixing chamber communicating with the internal i'rusto-corLical passage of the nozzle, said body passage permitting the escape from the container by way of the nozzle aoi at least a portion of the air introduced into the container and the withdrawal of the material from the container and its discharge through the nozzle by the entraining action oi the escaping air, a second branch air line formed in the body and connected to the main air line, and means connected to the second branchY air line for discharging air therefrom under pressure upon the material dischargedirom the nozzle, the main and each` branch air line having an independent valve.

7. In a tool or apparatus for applying material such as powder or ilock, the combination with a body portion having anopening therein provided with a rear wall, and a nozzle secured to the body portion having an internal frustaconical passage, an external frusto-conical recess, said passage and said recess having a common base, and a central discharge orifice in the common base, said opening and said orifice havconical passage, the smaller baseof which merges,

with. the rear end oi the cylindrical passage, interposed between the portion of the opening unillled by the lining and the central cylindrical passage therein, the cylindrical and irustoconical passages of the lining being in communication with the discharge orifice and the unillled y portion of the opening, respectively.

8. In a tool or apparatus for applying material such as powder or ilock, the combination with a. body portion having an opening therein -provided with a rear wall, and a nozzle secured to the body portion having an internal frustra- .conlcal passage the smaller base of which extends away irom the rear wall` and is provided with a discharge oriilce, said opening and said discharge oriilce having a common axis, of a lining removably mosnted within a portion of said opening so as te be spaced from the rear wall thereof, said lining having a cylindrical passage extending partially therethrough and a frusta-conical passage, the smaller base of which merges with the rear end of the cylindrical passage, interposed between the portion of the opening unfilled by the lining and the cylindrical passage therein, the cylindrical and frusto-conical passages o! the lining being in communication 4with the discharge oriilce and the unillled portion o! the opening, respectively.

WAYNE B. THOMPSON. 

